{"id":578,"date":"2015-07-17T11:24:21","date_gmt":"2015-07-17T15:24:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ustoa.com\/blog\/?p=578"},"modified":"2015-07-17T11:24:21","modified_gmt":"2015-07-17T15:24:21","slug":"saxony-reborn-ashes-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ustoa.com\/blog\/saxony-reborn-ashes-war\/","title":{"rendered":"Saxony Reborn From the Ashes of War"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Adriana Yampey, AFAR Ambassador<\/em><\/p>\n

On Valentines Day 1945 British and American heavy bombers were dropping thousands of tons of high explosive bombs over Dresden, destroying 6.5 kilometers of the city center and killing an estimated 25,000 people. \u00a0It\u2019s almost impossible to believe that such devastation took place. You would not know this when visiting the city today.<\/p>\n

In early May I had the opportunity to travel to Saxony with Saxony Tourism<\/a> and Avanti Destinations<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I admit I had preconceived ideas about Saxony. I knew much of the big cities, of Dresden and Leipzig, were destroyed in World War II followed by years behind the Iron Curtain, and imagined it undeveloped, grey and uninteresting.<\/p>\n

But Saxony proved me wrong with its beauty, restored architecture, some in the same style they were before the war and a lot of them completely transformed in order to keep up with the times.<\/p>\n

Seeing Dresden today makes it hard to believe such destruction ever happened. \u00a0The locals however do not want to forget; in many restaurants and pubs you will see haunting images of the past hanging on walls.<\/p>\n

I arrived in Dresden, early morning and as soon as I reached the old center I fell in love. Spring is the perfect time to visit this city and Saxony in general. The fresh, and sweet smell of the lilac trees, and wisteria complement the city\u2019s impressive architecture beautifully.<\/p>\n